Yeah, my Pyra will be my new phone due to privacy. . .

[Xcl4m4t10n]

This is my main concern with phones. There is no a FUCKING alternative to Android or IOS? I mean, we are 7,442 billion fucking apes on this planet and we have only 2 damn OS? This is annoying as hell. I know a new OS is risky but c'mon, I want to believe that there are at least 1 million people interested on something aside of Android or iOS...

 

[rygD]

There are other options, they just don't have as many interested people, for many reasons that I won't bother listing. That pack of users, aka customers, means software people want to use probably won't get official support or releases. That means many of the people that might otherwise be interested will stick with one of the comfortable options that has everything they want (kinda like with the other main class of OSs). Also, a million people isn't a lot if you consider how many will never hear of this alternative OS, at least while it is alive, plus people that can afford the hardware, and so on. Also you need technically proficient people to make the software and work on the OS. Many things have to come together to make it successful.

My question is why aren't people using their phones as phones? Stick to that and you won't have so many problems.

 

[Alperoot]

I agree, but probably for a different reason than you.

Wow, those should be called extra mini computers.

 

[second exodous]

I think the problem isn't another phone OS but an open OS and possibly hardware. That is why I'm interested in using my Pyra as a phone, runs debian and I know exactly what is in the hardware. Also not large enough (now) for a company to write a program to spy on Pyra users.

 

[levi]

I'm happy with my Blackberry Priv.
I did deactivate all Google stuff and don't have games or anything that uses Ads installed.
As long as I don't have crap on my Phone I think it's fine.

How long do you expect kernel holes to be patched for that device. SZ has given us the best part of a decade of patches, and you can always turn to pandebian or hopefully soon LetuxOS if a hole gets discovered after notaz has moved full time to pastures new.

 

[dracmas]

Why not use a phone as a phone?

I'd get a flip phone if I wanted that. At least from how I've thought about it, these touch screen devices are mobile computers that have the added feature of making calls. They just aren't in the same clamshell design as the pyra.

 

[levi]

True. If the Pyra phone ever comes to fruition (a phone chassis supporting the pyra's cpu module) that could be a very worthwhile upgrade for me, assuming the software's usable by then.

Even dumb phones these days are exploitable by flaws that are discovered a lot of the time.

 

[Xcl4m4t10n]

There are other options, they just don't have as many interested people, for many reasons that I won't bother listing. That pack of users, aka customers, means software people want to use probably won't get official support or releases. That means many of the people that might otherwise be interested will stick with one of the comfortable options that has everything they want (kinda like with the other main class of OSs). Also, a million people isn't a lot if you consider how many will never hear of this alternative OS, at least while it is alive, plus people that can afford the hardware, and so on. Also you need technically proficient people to make the software and work on the OS. Many things have to come together to make it successful.

My question is why aren't people using their phones as phones? Stick to that and you won't have so many problems.

Nothing I didn't know (and even mentioned). For your last question is very easy. Is for the same reason people are not using mp3s players anymore. If I have something that can do the same things than a computer (and an mp3, a gps, etc...) why I should have 432890 things intead of 1?

 

[rygD]

Nothing I didn't know (and even mentioned). For your last question is very easy. Is for the same reason people are not using mp3s players anymore. If I have something that can do the same things than a computer (and an mp3, a gps, etc...) why I should have 432890 things intead of 1?

I use two mp3 players, one for more widely acceptable stuff in case others have to listen, and another with everything, including the stuff that bothers most people for a variety of reasons. I also have a non-wifi capable ebook leader with e-ink screen. I also still have dedicated hardware for other things (remember when your gaming handhelds only played games?). Maybe Pyra isn't for me.

 

[klapse]

This is my main concern with phones. There is no a FUCKING alternative to Android or IOS? I mean, we are 7,442 billion fucking apes on this planet and we have only 2 damn OS? This is annoying as hell. I know a new OS is risky but c'mon, I want to believe that there are at least 1 million people interested on something aside of Android or iOS...

Sailfish OS would be one.

 

[CommanderB]

Sailfish OS would be one.

It is unfortunately not completely open source and there are not many devices which support it.

I am really missing a QWERTY phone with a Linux OS :/ I have hoped that the Neo900 will be released in a feasible time.
I guess that I am going to try to replace my phone with the Pyra. Since I am mostly using Tapatalk and the browser it should be doable.

Gesendet von meinem SM-N9005 mit Tapatalk

 

[rygD]

It is unfortunately not completely open source and there are not many devices which support it.

I am really missing a QWERTY phone with a Linux OS :/ I have hoped that the Neo900 will be released in a feasible time.
I guess that I am going to try to replace my phone with the Pyra. Since I am mostly using Tapatalk and the browser it should be doable.

Gesendet von meinem SM-N9005 mit Tapatalk

Even if we are never able to use it for voice and text, I am interested in the Pyra other reasons which rely heavily on the keyboard. Since I am getting the 4G version I will make do with just using data for my mobile communication needs if it comes down to it.

I am wondering if I should order a spare battery to be sure I can get through a day workout charging.

 

[klapse]

It is unfortunately not completely open source and there are not many devices which support it.

I am really missing a QWERTY phone with a Linux OS :/ I have hoped that the Neo900 will be released in a feasible time.
I guess that I am going to try to replace my phone with the Pyra. Since I am mostly using Tapatalk and the browser it should be doable.

Gesendet von meinem SM-N9005 mit Tapatalk

Then I have good news for you. TheKit ported sailfish to the Droid 4. Best keyboard ever. Fast enough. Enough ram. Usable camera. GPS works too.

EDIT: No, it's not 'Secure'. It's less of a target though.

 

[rygD]

Then I have good news for you. TheKit ported sailfish to the Droid 4. Best keyboard ever. Fast enough. Enough ram. Usable camera. GPS works too.

EDIT: No, it's not 'Secure'. It's less of a target though.

Interesting. Seems it was ported to my smartphones, so maybe I will try it out.

Oh, also: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailfish_Secure

 

[CommanderB]

Then I have good news for you. TheKit ported sailfish to the Droid 4. Best keyboard ever. Fast enough. Enough ram. Usable camera. GPS works too.

EDIT: No, it's not 'Secure'. It's less of a target though.

Thanks for the hint! I see that there is even a mainlining effort going on. http://elektranox.org/droid4/

I will check whether the Droid 4 is difficult to get!

Gesendet von meinem SM-N9005 mit Tapatalk

 

[benoitb]

Is anyone else thinking of dumping their smart phone and using the Pyra as a phone or some other device because of crap like this?

I wanted to but there was a lot of hostility on this forum to having a camera included and I will still have to carry an extra device because of that.

The lack of camera and having currently no idea if the Pyra will last longer than a few hours on idle with 4G on (your phone needs to be on and connected to receive calls) makes me think I won't be able to replace my phone with the Pyra. This makes me think about taking the non-cellular version actually.

Also onpon4 wrote wise words.
[doublepost=1514735387,1514734988][/doublepost]

I'm happy with my Blackberry Priv.
I did deactivate all Google stuff and don't have games or anything that uses Ads installed.
As long as I don't have crap on my Phone I think it's fine.

I was interested in the new Blackberry KeyOne (almost my dream phone) but then learnt that the bootloader is locked. Is your Priv still getting security OS updates ? What will you do with this phone once Blackberry stops to support it ?
I own a LG G2 on the latest Nougat build from LineageOS. It works perfectly even though LG stopped official updates.
[doublepost=1514735694][/doublepost]

This is my main concern with phones. There is no a FUCKING alternative to Android or IOS? I mean, we are 7,442 billion fucking apes on this planet and we have only 2 damn OS? This is annoying as hell. I know a new OS is risky but c'mon, I want to believe that there are at least 1 million people interested on something aside of Android or iOS...

I like Android. You can use it without Google's apps if you flash Lineage or Replicant. You still have access to a lot of apps outside of the Play Store through F-droid or some github pages. It's an OS where you can choose to remain completely FOSS or use proprietary apps, I like having that choice.

 

[asimov-solensan]

I agree with about lineageos comment. It covers most of the topics here.

You can have an installation with as many google services as you want (or not any of them). Security updates oftenly, and longer support than most brands. In this case security will depend on installed apps and drivers that builders refuse to update.

It's not exempt of bugs by the way.

 

[Xcl4m4t10n]

I like Android. You can use it without Google's apps if you flash Lineage or Replicant. You still have access to a lot of apps outside of the Play Store through F-droid or some github pages. It's an OS where you can choose to remain completely FOSS or use proprietary apps, I like having that choice.

I have LineageOS but that's not enough...

 

[Askarus]

I was interested in the new Blackberry KeyOne (almost my dream phone) but then learnt that the bootloader is locked. Is your Priv still getting security OS updates ? What will you do with this phone once Blackberry stops to support it ?
I own a LG G2 on the latest Nougat build from LineageOS. It works perfectly even though LG stopped official updates.

How long do you expect kernel holes to be patched for that device. SZ has given us the best part of a decade of patches, and you can always turn to pandebian or hopefully soon LetuxOS if a hole gets discovered after notaz has moved full time to pastures new.

It's still getting monthly patches.
As it's the only phone with a slide keyboard I could buy at that time it's the only option for me.

 

[trix]

Perhaps it's my ignorance, but I've had many problems with Android and IOS. I've always wanted a phone with a true Linux OS on it. When I first heard of Android, I read an article about how Google was building a Linux-based OS for smartphones and was very excited at the idea. The resulting OS, however, seems much more IOS-like than Linux-like. IMHO, it's not the Linux I'm looking for if I can't compile a tiny kernel module and modprobe it. It's not the Linux I want if I can't install a GUI I prefer. It's not the Linux I want if I can't drop to console and edit or set things up (swap file, partitioning an SD, etc).

On my Pandora I always have the console open. I activate swap, modprobe my ps3 controller driver, edit text with nano, browse forums with links -g, use IRC with irssi, launch games and programs with pnd_run (or directly with ./) etc. Using CodeBlocks I can even do things like compile and run a bitcoin vanity wallet generator or scanmem.

For me a Pyra would solve all of my issues with smartphones. I would of course have to use a headset or bluetooth device for the actual calling part, but it's the smartphone I dreamt about when I first heard of Android. Being a full Debian install I have absolutely no worries it wont be what I consider truly Linux.

On top of that, it's a full computer as well, with gaming controls and a decent SoC and decent battery life and a full keyboard, able to do what my Pandora does but better. On top of THAT, it's modular, so I can escape the outdated-crap-within-two-years syndrome currently affecting modern smartphones. Basically the Pyra is everything I always wanted when I first understood the concept of a smartphone. A real computer in the pocket that can also do phone stuff.

Also yeah, privacy. No fucking AppStore. No needing an account somewhere in order to get full functionality. I don't trust Google or Apple with personal or financial information and that locks out a LOT of what I could do with my phone.

Beyond all of that, the idea that I'd have to pay Apple money in order to write my own program for my iPhone offends me highly. This modern idea of buying something and not actually owning it is stupid, offensive, counter-productive, and shifty as fuck. If I take a few hours out of my very busy schedule to write a small app that (for example) pops up a notification when my server needs a reboot and lets me hit a button to do so, that's between me and my phone and my network and Apple can keep their greedy fucking hands out of my pockets.

Sorry I didn't mean to turn this into a rant. I just meant to agree wholeheartedly to the OP and explain my extreme distaste for the pieces of money-hungry privacy-invading untrustworthy shit that are Android OS and iOS.